Cymbals are another, specialized, form of vessel clapper; their two metal plates with concave centers are usually of indefinite pitch owing to the production of inharmonic partial tones. Generally they are made of copper or brass, in India additionally of white
metal (i.e., bell metal), and the best finger cymbals are said to be those of silver. One of a pair is held in each hand and the two are clashed together. Originally a ritual instrument, the cymbal passed into...
